The Voter Newsletters - League of Women Voters of Johnson County

Home EmailingsNewsletters/Emailing

Date: 2/24/2021
Subject: LWVJoCo Update: The legislature is now in session!
From: LWV of Johnson County

Hello ~~first_name~~:

With the federal and state legislatures now in session, the time to act is now. Read on for key federal initiatives, tips for following the Kansas legislature and more. We've also included a couple of ways left to celebrate Black history in these last few days of the month.

Support the For The People Act

It's a new year, there are many new faces in Washington, and the 117th Congress has made the For the People Act their top priority. The League supports this comprehensive democracy reform bill (known as H.R. 1 in the House and S. 1 in the Senate) with important provisions. Those provisions include the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, fair redistricting, D.C. statehood and more. Contact your representative TODAY and tell them to pass the For The People Act.

Contact your representative

Remove the ERA's ratification deadline

This month, the House and Senate introduced legislation to remove the time limit on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and finally include it in our Constitution. The League has supported ratification of the ERA since it was first passed by Congress in 1972, and we have worked for decades to see ratification by the states. Last year, Virginia ratified the ERA, bringing the total state count to the required 38. Now it is time for the legislative branch to pass it and finally include women in the U.S. Constitution.

Reach out to your representative now and urge them to support legislation to remove the ERA's ratification deadline.

Contact your representative

Tips for the KS legislative session

Now is the time to advocate using our League of Women Voters of Kansas positions.

Remember, the House and Senate both have standing committees in the same categories.
Watch bills that relate to our criminal justice study and our 2021 priorities – particularly elections, redistricting (People Powered Fair Maps), Medicaid expansion and government transparency.
Follow House and Senate bills at kslegislature.org under the Bills & Laws tab.

See possible bills of interest here.

Celebrating Black History Month

Here are a couple of ways to honor Black history in KC in the last few days of Black History Month. Attend Prairie Village's Black History Month celebration on Facebook Live, Thursday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. Visit the "Valor!" display at the Black Archives of Mid-America, celebrating the achievement of Black veterans in KC. Open through March 5.

Stay informed and engaged

Don't forget to register for the annual meeting!

If you haven't yet registered for LWVJoCo's first ever virtual meeting, be sure to do so! The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 6, and will feature a keynote by former Johnson County Election Commissioner Connie Schmidt. Access voteable items and the annual report before meeting.

State legislatures introduce hundreds of voting bills

The 2020 elections have generated significant focus on voting laws on both sides of the issue. Thirty-three states have introduced, pre-filed or carried over 165 restrictive voting bills this year – a four-fold increase over the number of similar bills introduced last year. Thirty-seven states have introduced, pre-filed or carried over 541 bills to expand voting access, also a significant increase. For a review of these bills, visit the Brennan Center's Voting Laws Roundup: February 2021 report.

Census delays cause chaos

The U.S. Census Bureau announced that population data will be delayed by six months as a result of pandemic challenges. This impacts the redistricting process for many states, which in turn "wreaks havoc" on 2022 election planning as candidates can't be sure in which district they will fall. Read more.

LWVUS celebrates 101 years of nonpartisanship

On February 14, the LWVUS celebrated its 101st year. The League was founded "to be a nonpartisan voice for American women who wanted free, fair, and open elections, above all else." Read the League CEO Virginia Kase's blog on remaining nonpartisan in these highly partisan times.

LWVUS supports right to civic education

Earlier this month, the national League and the LWV of RI filed an amicus brief in support of 12 student plaintiffs demanding the right to an education that prepares them to engage in civic society. Learn more.

The Road Ahead: Transcending the Political Divide

Join the Mainstream Coalition Thursday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. for an open event on bridging our differences to build strong communities in Kansas and the nation. This event, the first in a series, is open to non-members. Learn more.

Questions or concerns?

Contact Us

Return to Previous Page